Current supply and control means for traveling conveyers



p 14, 1954 R, w. SPAFFORD 2,688,931

CURRENT SUPPLY AND CONTROL MEANS FOR TRAVELING CONVEYERS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14, 1954 R. W. SPAFFORD CURRENT SUPPLY AND CONTROL MEANS FOR TRAVELING CONVEYERS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1944 I l l I l R. W. SPAFFORD CURRENT SUPPLY AND CONTROL MEANS FOR TRAVELING CONVEYERS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVEN TOR RALPH w. SP/QFFORD flTTORNEYS Q Patented Sept. 14, 1954 CURRENT SUPPLY AND CONTROL MEANS FOR TRAVELING CONVEYERS Ralph W. Spaflord, Fairfield, Iowa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Mechanical Handling Systems, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Continuation of application Serial No. 18,694, April 2, 1948, which is a continuation of application Serial No. 548,193, August 5, 1944, now both abandoned. This application January 17, 1950, Serial No. 139,061

29 Claims.

My invention relates to travelling conveyor constructions and apparatus.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 18,694, filed April 2, 1948, which is a continuation of my application Serial No. 548,193, filed August 5, 1944, both of which prior applications have become abandoned.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide in a travelling conveyor construction in which the conveyor is propelled along a trackway, improved means whereby the attendant at a station along the trackway can set selective means on the conveyor so that it will automatically stop at any stop station along the track way which the dispatcher may desire.

A further object is to provide such a construction in which the trackway is provided with a plurality of selectable routes in which the attendant at a station along the trackway can set selector means on the conveyor so that it will automatically control the routing of the conveyor as. determined by the dispatcher.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a construction in which interference between a plurality of conveyors is prevented.

A further object is to provide such constructions in which the control is effected by the use of collectors which engage the power bus bars of the system.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide an improved telepher system having a route including differentiated bus bar sections for track switch controls for cooperation with a plurality of differential conveyor carried c0l-. lectors, some of which will automatically throw certain of the switches and not others and some of which will not throw said certain switches and will throw others.

A further object is to provide an improved telepher system having a route including bus bar sections for stop stations for cooperation with differentiated conveyor carried collectors, some of which conveyors will automatically stop at certain stations and not at others and some of which will not automatically stop at said certain stop stations and will stop at others.

Further objects and; advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

" in the drawings,

Figure l is somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of a conveyor system;

Fig. 2 shows a wiring diagram of the system;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a latched in switch used;

Fig. ,4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the conveyor collectors in engagement with the propulsion motor bus bar stop sections, and

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the track switch controlling collectors in engagement with the track switch controlling bus bar sections.

Before describing the construction in detail, I will outline the operation broadly in connection with the disclosure of Fig. 1. The construction therein shown comprises a trackway A having a plurality of selectable routes B in which the routing of the conveyors C is controlled by means of track switches D, which, as shown, can be set either so that the conveyor will travel straight ahead or will travel on a curve onto a branch track section B.

In the construction shown means are provided so that a dispatcher at the station E can set a selector F carried by a conveyor C so that when the conveyor is dispatched on its way, it will control the route-determining switches D in such a manner that it will travel along any desired one of the branch trackways and so that it will stop at any desired one of the stop stations G along the branch trackways. Means are also provided to prevent interference between conveyors such as C and C which may both be approaching the same switch D This is accomplished by providing blocking stations so that the conveyor which reaches its blocking station first will out 01f the power to the travel motor on the other conveyor.

Referring now to Fig. 2, ,the construction shown provides for manual starting, stopping. and reversing the travel motor 5 selective travel motor stop, selective track switch operation, and selective conveyor blocking. By reason of the selective track switch apparatus, a circuit controller 25 on the conveyor may be so set that as the trolley travels along the trackway, it will control the operation of the routing track switches 26 and 27 in such away as to guide the conveyor to the desired area. By reasoil of the selective travel motor stop apparatus, selective circuit controllers 28 and 29 on the conveyor may be so set that the conveyor will stop in any desired area of the selected trackway and at any desired section of the selected area. By reason of the selective blocking apparatus 30 and 3|, if two conveyors are travelling along the trackway, the one having precedence may cause the de-energization of the bus bars supplying power are provided for manually controlling the forward and reverse travel of the conveyor and for the stopping of the conveyor travel. Usually each conveyor carries a hoist motor and control (not shown).

Manual starting of travel motor When the stop switch I is in lowered position and the dispatcher closes the forward switch 2, a circuit is closed between L and L through the forward travelmotor switch actuator 3. The travel motor 5 is then put in operation for forward travel of the conveyor by the switch 5. At the same time a circuit is closed from L to L through the run actuator 6 for the latchedin switch I (shown in detail in Fig. 3), through the conductors 3, 9 and I and switches I I and I2. A holding circuit is thus established through the actuator 3 for the forward travel motor switch between L and L through the conductors I3, I4 and i5, thus maintaining the motor 5 running and keeping the conveyor travelling after the dispatcher releases the forward switch 2.

Manual stop for travel motor When an attendant raises the stop switch I, it opens the circuit I6, breaking the connection between L and both the forward switch 2 and the reverse switch I1, and establishes a circuit between L and L through the stop actuator I8 for the latched-in switch I and the conductors I8 I9 and 28. This opens the switch I to break the circuit through the actuator 3 for the forward travel motor switch 5 and causes the travel motor switch 5 to open the circuit to the travel motor 5 and stop the travel motor and conveyor,

The latched-in switch apparatus shown in more detail in Fig. 3 comprises the switch terminals for the conductors 4 and I4, the circuit controller 20 for connecting and disconnecting these terminals, a toggle mechanism 20 for actuating the controller 20 and the actuators 6 and I8. When the actuator 6 is energized even momentarily, it straightens the toggle 20 to hold the switch closed until the actuator I8 is energized. When the actuator I6 is energized, it breaks the toggle to hold the switch open until the actuators is again energized.

M anual reversing travel motor When the motor has been stopped by the opening of the motor switch 5, closing the reverse switch II will close a circuit between L and L through the reverse motor switch actuator 2| and the conductors 22 and 23, thus closing the reverse switch 24 and causing reverse travel of the conveyor.

Selective control for stopping travel motor will be stopped at the selectable station.

The selective apparatus on the conveyor comprises in addition to the circuit controllers 28 and 29 and the analyzing collectors 35, 36, 31 and 38 selectable thereby, conditioning trolley collectors 39, 48, 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 for cooperation with interposed conditioning bus bar sections 41 and 48 at the various stop stations G G and G along the trackway. These conditioning collectors are also the collectors for the power supply for the propulsion motor 5*. The controllers 28 and 29 operate conjointly in accepting or rejecting the various stop stations. By means of the controller 28, the actuator 55 controlling the switch I2 can be connected through the switch contacts 28 and 28 with either the collector 35 or 36, and by means of the controller 29 the actuator 56 controlling the switch I I can be connected through the switch contacts 29 and 29 with either the collector 31 or with the collector 39. If the conveyor motor 5 is running, the switch I being closed, it requires the simultaneous raising of both switches II and I2 to stop the motor by de-energizing the actuator 6 and energizing the actuator I8, thus opening the switch 1. This simultaneous raising of both switches II and I2 is dependent on the selection of analyzing collectors made by the selectors 28 and 29, as explained hereinafter.

When the conveyor has moved to analyzing position with respect to stop station G as shown in detail in Fig. 4, in which position the conditioning collectors 42 and 45 engage the bus bar sections 4! and 48, respectively, the cooperating conditioning means on the conveyor C and the various stop stations G G and G render effective for analysis by the selected analyzing collectors certain of the various analyzable interposed bus bar sections 49, 58,5I and 52. This is accomplished by energizing the actuator 53, connected between the bus bar sections 41 and 48, which closes the switch 54. The energization of the actuator 53 when the conveyor is in conditioning position is accomplished by the collector 42 and the collectors 39 and 40 electrically connected therewith which connect the section 41 with the bus bar L and by the collector 45 and the collectors 43 and 44 electrically connected therewith which connect the insulated bus bar section 48 with the bus bar L As the actuator 53 is thus electrically connected between the bus bars L and L the switch 54 is closed to render effective for analysis the analyzable bus bar sections 50 and 5I at station G for example.

The closing of the switch 54 connects a prede termined number of the analyzable bus bar sections 49, 58, 5| and 52 (for example, 50 and 5I, at stop station G 50 and 52 at stop station G and 49 and 5| at stop station G with the other bus bar L These analyzable sections 49, 50, 5I and 52 are positioned and spaced so that when the conveyor has moved to analyzing position, they will be in contact, respectively, with the analyzing collectors 38, 31, 36 and 35.

Assuming that the conveyor is at stop station G? and the attendant desires to dispatch it and have it stop at station G as shown in Fig. 4, he will set the selector control 28 to connect the actuator 55 with the collector 36 and will set the selector control 29 to connect the actuator 56 with the collector 31. He will then start the conveyor on its way by momentarily depressing the forward push button 2. When the conveyor reaches the analyzing position for stop station G the conditioning collectors 42 and 45 engage the bus bar sections 41 and 48, respectively, connecting them '5 with L1 and L respectively, and thus energizing the actuator 53.. This. closes the switch. 5.4, con-- necting the analyzable elements 50, and 5| with Ll. Thesev analyzable elements are now engaged by the collectors 3-1 and 36-, respectively. As theselector contacts 28 and 29 have been set to connect the actuators 55' and. 56 with the collectors 36 and 31, both. of these actuators will be energized and both switches II- and 12 will be raised. This will break the connection to the actuator 6 and close a circuit through the actuator l8, thus lowering the switch I and breaking the circuit through the actuator 3. This breaks the circuit to the motor 5 and stops the, conveyor.

If, now, the attendant at station G wishes to startv the conveyor on its way again and have it stopped at station G he will set the selector contacts 28 and 2.9 to connect the actuator coils 55 and 56. with the collectors 36 and, 38., respectively. He. will then depress: the starting button 22 momentarily,sending the conveyor on its way. If the track switches 27 and 26 are set as shown in Fig. 2, the conveyor will travel along until it reaches the analyzing position of stop station G When it reaches this position, the conditioning collectors 42. and 45 will cause the energization of the switch 5.3 as previously described in connection. with stop station G causing the. bus bar sections 49. and 5| to be electrically connected with. the bus bar L In this position of the conveyor the bus bar sections 49 and 5| will be engaged by the collectors 38 and 36 and as these collectors are now connected with the actuators: 55. and 56 these actuators will be energized and the conveyor will be stopped as described in connection with stop station G In a similar manner, if the switch 21 is set for straight and if the conveyor is at station G and the attendant desires to send it to station G and cause it to stop there, he will set the selectors. 28 and 29 so that the collectors 31 and 35 will. be. connected with the actuators 5.6 and 5.5., respectively, and will start the conveyor on. its travel. The conveyor will pass by station G as the selectors 2.8. and 29 are not set to stopat that station, and will travel over the straight portion of I the switch 21 and into conditioning position with respect to station G The conditioning apparatus will operate the switch 54, rendering. the bus bar sections 52 and. 50 effective for analysis.

These sections 52 and Si) are so spaced andpositioned. that they will be engaged by the efiective analyzing collectors. 35 and 31, thus energizing both actuators 5.5 and 55. and stopping the travelmotor 5 It is obvious that a system could be devised in which one of the conditioning collectors 4.2 or 45 might be dispensed with and that the analyze able bus bar sections might be placed in either one of the bus bar circuits L or L2.

I provide the two independently settable selective devices 23 and 29 which control, respectively, the two switches l I and l 2 in series which control the stop actuator of the latched-in switch and the run actutaor I8 of the latched-in. switch i to enable av relatively large number of selectable analyzable combinations to be obtained, thus providing for a large number of stop stations. The series arrangement of these switches makes it necessary that both actuators be simultaneously energized to de-energize the run actuator 6 and energize the stop actuator [3.

It the travel motor 5 has been stopped by simultaneous energization of both actuators 55 and 5.6, the; run actuator 6 cannot be energized to L since if either of the actuators or '56 is' energized the circuit tothe actuator 6 will be broken either by the switch l2 or the switch I I. This necessitates that both selectors 2.8 and 29- shall be set to stop-selecting position before the conveyor can proceed on its trip.

Selective track switch control The track switch control apparatus is in many respects similar to the stop travel motor control apparatus. shown, but as the control apparatus for the two switches differ somewhat in construction they will be separately described. The track switch 21 comprises a movable section 51 shiftable from a position in which the conveyor A travels straight ahead to a position in which it travels around a curve, and vice versa, by means of a suitable electric'motor 58. This electric motor gets its power supply from the conductors 59 and 59, the circuits being such that when the switch 60 is open and the switch 6| is closed, the motor is driven in a direction to shift the switch from straight tocurved position, and that when the switch BI is open and the switch 60 is closed the motor will operate in a reverse direction to move the switch from curved to straight position. The switch 60 is controlled by the actuator 62 which is connected with thepower supply at 59 through the conductor 63, limit switch 64, and conductor 65 and is connected with a terminal of the conditioning switch 66 through a conductor 6?. The actuator 68 for the switch BI is connected with the power supply at 59 through the conductor 55, limit switch 69, and conductor 10 and is connected on the other side through the conductor 1- I with a terminal on the conditioning switch 65. The limit switch 64 is automatically opened and the limit switch 69 is automatically closed when the switch section 61 is moved tocurved posi tion, and the switch 64 is automatically closed and the switch 69 opened when the section 51 ismoved tothe straight position.

The apparatus for controlling the operation of the track switches issimilar to apparatus previously describedfor automatically stopping the travel of the motor 5 It comprises the conditioning collectors 42, 45, etc., carried by the conveyor, already described in connection with the travel motor stop apparatus, the conditioning bus bar sections 12- and 73 at the trackswitch station H and an actuator M con-nected between these bus bar sections 12 and 13, the conditioning switch 66 controlled by this actuator, a plurality of analyzable bus bar sections 15, 16, 1'1, 1'8- and 19, some of which, 76-, I8- and T9, are connected so as to be rendered analyzably effective by the closing of the switch 66, a conductor 80 connecting the bus bar section 1 5 with L when the switch 66 is closed, and the conductors 61 and H connecting the actuators 62* and 68 with the bus bar sections 19 and 18- when the switch 66 is closed. The track switch.

control apparatus com-prisesalso the conveyorca-rried collectors 8|, 82 and 83 engaging the bus bar L the collector 8| being electrically connected with the movable contact of selector 25 and the collectors 82 and 83 being" connected, respectively, with the fixed contacts 8 1 and 8 5 of the selector 25. With. this construction, when. the, trolley in its travel reaches the track switch- Two track switches 26 and 2'! are controlling station H, the collectors 42, 45, etc., will be in position so that the trolley 4| will age the bus bar section 12 at the same time that the collector 46 engages the bus bar section 13. This will connect section 13 with the bus bar L and the section 12 with bus bar L and establish a circuit through the actuator 14 to close the switch 66. This will render analyzably effective the bus bar sections 16, 18 and 19.

If the attendant in dispatching the conveyor desires that it shall set the track switch 21 to curve, he will position the movable selector contact of the selector 25 to engage the fixed contact 85. This electrically connects the collectors 8| and 83. When the conveyor has reached the switchcontrolling conditioning position in which the bus bar sections 16, 18 and 19 are rendered selectably effective, the collector 8| will engage the section 16 and the collector 83 will engage the bus bar section 19. This will cause the actuator 62 to be energized to put the motor 58 into action to shift the switch section 51 from straight position to curve position, if the track switch section had been left in straight position. The circuit thus established for the actuator 62 is from L through the conductor 89, switch 66, bus bar section 16, collector 9|, conductor 81, the movable contact of the selector 25, the conductor 86, the collector 83, the

bus bar section 19, switch 66, conductor 61, ac-

8 switch 21 be set to the desired position. On the other hand track switch'26 is always left in curve position by the conveyor after it has passed the switch. This makes it unnecessary to provide a switch controlling station on the curved track section 99. It is only necessary to provide a switch controlling station on the track section 9| to throw the switch 26 to straight position as the trolley approaches the switch on this track section. In the track switch controlling apparatus for the track switch 26, the motor 58, the switches 69 and 6|, the switch actuators 62 and 68, and the limit switches -64 and 69 may be similar to those described in connection with track switch 21.

1 The apparatus for controlling the actuator 68 which sets the switch 26 to straight position, comprises an'insulated bus bar section 92 in L connected with the actuator 69 by conductor 93. As the conveyor reaches the control station for the track switch 26, the front collector 46 ,engages the bus bar section 92 and connects this bus bar section with L through the bridging conductor 94 and the collectors 44 and 46. This establishes a circuit through the actuator 68 from L through the collectors 44 and 46, bus bar section 92, the conductor 93, the actuator 68, the

' conductor 95, the limit switch 69 and conductor tuator 62, conductor 63, limit switch 64, and conductor 65 to the supply 59 (L If the switch section 51 had already been in curve position the limit switch 64 would have been opened and the actuator 62 would not have been energized.

If, instead of desiring to send the conveyor along the curved portion of the switch section 51, the operator had desired to send the conveyor along the straight portion of the track switch, he would have set the movable contact of the selector 25 to engage the other fixed contact 84 of the selector 25, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, thus connecting the collector 8| with the collector 82. He would then dispatch the trolley on its way. With this setup, when the conveyor reached the conditioning track switch controlling position, the conditioning switch 66 would be closed automatically and the analyzable bus bar sections 16, 18 and 19 would be rendered analyzably effective. The selected collectors 8| and 82 would establish an electrical connection between the bus bar sections 16 and 18, thus connecting the actuator 68 between L and-l.- at 59 through a circuit including the conductor 99, the switch 66, the bus bar section 16, the collector 8|, selector switch 25, collector 82, bus bar section 18, switch 66, conductor 1|, actuator 68, conductor 10, limit switch 69, and a conductor 65 to the terminal 59 (L This will close the switch 6|, causing reverse rotation ofthe motor 55 to move the track switch 51 from curve to straight position. When the switch 69 is closed, the conductors 88 and 89 for the motor 58 are connected, respectively, with the terminals L and L The apparatus for controlling the track switch 26 is in general similar to that described in connection with track switch 21. However, the track switch 21 is shown as approached by the conveyor from the toe end of the switch, and the track switch 26 is approached from the heel end. After the conveyor has passed the track switch 21, the switch is left in the position in which it was placed by the conveyor at the control station H. Each conveyor, as it reaches the control station H, has to insure that the track 96 to L at 59*. This pits the motor 58 in operation to move the switch to straight position. As the conveyor proceeds, it passes through the switch until the front collector 46 engages the insulated bus bar section 91. This energizes the actuator 62 and closes the switch 69 which causes reverse rotation of the motor 58 to reset the switch 51 to curve position. The circuit through the actuator 62 is from L through the collectors 43 and 44, jumper conductor 94, collector 46, insulated bus bar section 91, conductor 98, actuator 62, conductor 99, limit switch 64 and conductors W9 and 96 to L at 59 It is obvious that the selector 25, when set, may control the throw of the track switches 26 and 21, irrespective of whether the conveyor is motor driven or pulled along by an attendant on the floor.

Two blocking stations J and K are provided, one to enable a trolley travelling, for example,

on the curved track section 99 to block a conveyor travelling, for example, on another curved track section 9|, if the conveyor on the first curved track section 99 reaches the blocking station J before the conveyor travelling on the other curved track section 9| reaches the blocking section K, and one to enable a conveyor travelling on the curved section 9| to block a conveyor travelling on the curved track section 99, if the con veyor travelling on the section 9| reaches its blocking station K before the other conveyor reaches its blocking station J. To enable this blockingaction to be accomplished, the bus bar sections 99 and 9| between the switches 26 and 21 are insulated from each other and from the rest of the bus bar system. Power is supplied to the insulated bus bar sections 99 and 9| from the connections at l9! and H32. The energization and de-energization of the bus bars for the curved bus bar section 9| is controlled by an electric actuator I93 and a switch I94 controlled thereby, and the energization and de-energization of the bus bars for the insulated bus bar section 99 is controlled by a switch I05 controlled by an electric actuator I96. The circuits for the electric actuators I03 and I05 are controlled by two-position latched-in switches I and 1 controlled by the electric actuators 6 I8, Ii and 18 When the switch I04 is closed, power is supplied to the bus bars of bus bar section 9| from the connections at I02 through the conductors L and L switch Hi4, and conductors IIIl and me. When the switch 1'05 is closed, the bus bars of the bus "bar section 90 are supplied with power from the connections at II through the conductors L and L switch 105 and conductors I08 and H39. The switches 10! and I05 aren'o'rmally closed and are opened by the energization of the actuators 103' and 1116, respectively. "The switches I and l are normally open, being opened by the actuators I 8 and I'8 ,'respective1-y, and closed 'by the actuators 6 and 6 "respective" ly. The actuators Ill and I8 'are both connected with the insulated bus bar section '97 by conductors 110, I'll and -H2 and are connected with Ii "bythe conductors II'3, "I I4 and H5. The actuator 6 is connected with L by conductor 1 l4 and is connected with an insulated control bus bar section I16 by conductor H7. 'The actuator ti is connected with L by conductors lit and "H5 and is connected with an insulated bus bar section H9 in L If there are two conveyors travelling along the trackway, one on bus bar section 90 and the other on bus bar section 9|, and the conveyor on section 90 reaches the position where its control collector "46 engages the insulated bus bar section I It before the collector is on the conveyor on bus bar section 9| engagesthe insulated control bus bar section 'IIB, the actuator "Ii will be energized, the switch l will be closed, the actuat'or I03 will be energized and the switch I04 will be opened. This will cut off the power supply to bus bar section '91 and the conveyor on bus bar section 9| will quickly come to a stop. The energization of the actuator '5 is effected by conmeeting the "insulated -bus bar section Ht with L through the electrically connected collectors 4B and 45.

After the bus bars for the 'bus bar section 91 have been d'e energized, they will remain deenergized until theconveyor on bus bar section 90 'moves'to a position where "its collector 4'6 engages the insulated bus bar section 97. In "this position the bus bar section will be electrically connected with L through collectors 46 and 45-. This closes the circuit through the actuator Id opening the switch "It, de-energizing the actuator I 03, allowing the switch I04 to close "to again energize the bus bars for "track section 91. The circuit established through the actuator i8 is from the connection at I02 through conductors 1 14 and "H 3, actuator It, conductors H0, H2, bus bar section 9-1, and collectors -46 and -45 to D Under a diiferent set of conditions, with 'a conveyor "on bus bar section 90 and another conveyor on bus bar section Q-I, if the conveyor =on busbarfsect-ion 9| is in advance of the conveyor on bus bar section 90 so that its collector 46 engages the'insulated bus bar section I19 before thecollector 43 0f the conveyor on bus bar section 90 engages the insulated -bus bar section I16, the actuator 6 will be energized "to close the switch 1*, thus energizing the actuator 106 to open the switch I05. This will dc-"energize the bus bars "for bus bar section 90, causing the conveyor -0n bus bar section 90 to stop its travel. The bus bars corresponding to bus bar section 9'0 will remain lie-energized until the conveyor on bus bar section '91 advances to a position where its collector 46 engages the bus bar section '91 This will establish a circuit through the actuator I8", opening the switch T de-energizing the actua'tor I03 and allowing the switch m5 to close 'to re-establish the circuit for the bus bars of the bus 'bar section '90.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it will be seen that by the apparatus described above, an attendant at dispatching station 'E can, for example, fill the carrier of the conveyor 0' with any desired mixture of the material in the supply means K, set the selector F so that it will throw aselection of the switches 'D to cause it to travel any desired route '3 and stop at any one of the desired stations G and initiate the travel of the conveyor so that it will choose its own path, follow the selected route and go 'to the selected delivery station G. It will also 'be seen that the attendant at the selected one of the delivery stations, after the load has been discharged from the conveyor, can reset the selector '1 to cause the conveyor to select its own route to any other delivery station or, if desired, back to the supply station. The track section "B may be utilized as a bypass to avoid sending the conveyor back to the dispatch station E if it should .be desired, for example, to dispatch the conveyor from delivery station G to delivery station G Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A conveyor system comprising a conveyor for travelling along a 'trackway', apair of energizable bus bars extending along said trackway for continuously supplying ,power to said conveyor as it travels along said trackway, and discriminatory collector means carried by said conveyor travelling along said bus bars, each of said .bus bars having a control section interposed therein insulated from the adjacent sections, said collector means including a ,pair of bridging collectors for simultaneously connecting said control sections respectively with an adjacent section, and an electric actuator connected between the said control sections, the circuit through which is completed by said bridging collectors, a third control section interposed in one of said' bus bars and insulated from adjacent sections, a connector controlled by said actuator for controlling the connection and disconnection between said third control section and one of said bus bars,

said collector means comprising a collector so spaced with respect to said "bridging collectors as to engage said third control section when the bridging collectors connect their control sections with adjacent bus bar sections.

'2. A conveyor system comprising "a conveyor for travelling along-a trackway, a pair of energizable bus bars extending along said trackway for continuously supplying power to said. conveyor as it travels along said trackway, and discriminatory collector means carriedbysaid conveyor engaging and travelling along said bus bars, one of said bus bars having a control section interposed therein insulated from the adjacent sections,

said collector means including a bridging collector for connecting said control section with an adjacent section, an electric actuator connected between the said control section and the nonadjacent "bus bar, a circuit through which actuator is completed by the said bridging collector, a plurality of control sections interposed in one of said bus bars and insulated from each other and from adjacent sections, and a connector controlled by said actuator for controlling the connection and disconnection between said plurality of control sections and one of said bus bars, said collector means comprising a plurality of collectors so spaced with respect, to

said bridging collector as to engage said plurality of control sections when the bridging collector connects the first control section with an adjacent .bus bar section.

3. A conveyor system comprising a conveyor for travelling along a trackway, a pair of energizgizable bus barsextending along said'trackway for continuously supplying power to said conveyor as it travels along said trackway, and discriminatory collector means carried by said conveyor engaging and travelling along said bus bars, one of said bus bars having a control section interposed therein insulated from theadjacent sections, said collector means including a bridging collector for connecting said control section with an adjacent section, an electric actuator connected between the said control section and the nonadjacent bus bar, a circuit through which actuator is completed by the said bridging col-' lector, a plurality of control sections interposed in one of said bus bars and insulated from each other and from adjacent sections, a connectorcontrolled by said actuator for controlling the connection and disconnection between said plurality of control sections and one of said bus bars, said collector means comprising a plurality of collectors so spaced with respect to said bridg ing collector as to engage said plurality of control sections when the bridging collector connects the first control section with an adjacent bus bar section, and a switch connector for selective connection with any one of said plurality of collectors.

4. A conveyor for travelling along a trackway, a single bus bar having a plurality of interruptions therein extending along said trackway, a plurality of distinguishable bus bar sections interposed at said interruptions, respectively, and electrically insulated from the remainder of said bus bar, a plurality of independently analyzable and selectable partial circuits connected with said interposed sections, respectively, a collector carried by said conveyor continuously engageable with said bus bar and sequentially engageable with said interposed sections, anda plurality of analyzing and discriminatory circuit means carried by said conveyor selectively connectible with said collector, each of said analyzing circuit means being responsive to at least one of said interposed means and partial circuits to complete an effective circuit and nonresponsive to at least one other.

5. A conveyor for travelling along a trackway, a single bus barmeans having a plurality of interruptions therein extending along said trackway, a plurality of distinguishable bus bar devices interposed at said interuptions, respectively, and electrically insulated from the remainder of said bus bar, a plurality of independently analyzable and selectable partial circuits connected with said interposed devices, respectively, collector and circuit means carried by said conveyor comprising collector means continuously engageable with said bus bar means and sequentially engageable with said interposed devices, and a plurality of analyzing and discriminatory circuit means carried by said conveyor selectively connectible in circuit with said collector means, each of said analyzing circuit means being re sponsive to at least one of said interposed devices and partial circuits to complete an efiective circuit and nonresponsive toat least one other.

6. In a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control conductor having distinguishable sections individ-, ual to said stations and extending along said route, said distinguishable sections being ele ctrically insulated from the remainder of said, conductor, discriminatory control trolleymeans on said carrier continuously, engageable with the principal portion of said control conductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, said trolley means being common to said stations, a station selector on the carrier operable toselectively condition said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector being operable, to select a station, at any time during the approach of said carrier to the selected station, carrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and disposed to be energized from said control trolley means as the carrier approaches the corresponding station, and means operably responsive to said energization to control an operation affecting the carrier at the selected station.

7. Control apparatus for a telpherage system including a power-driven conveyor, a trackway for such conveyor and a. plurality of operating stations located at spaced points along such trackway, said apparatus comprising an electric conductor extending along said trackway and having an interposed distinguishable section,

electrically insulated from the remainder of said conductor ateach of said stations, trolley means mounted on said conveyor substantially continuously engageable with said condirctor and sequentially engageable with said interposed sections, an electric translating device at each of said stations electrically connected to the correspending interposed section for controlling an operation of said conveyor, and. manually settable discriminatory control means mounted on said conveyor to condition said trolley means for selectively energizing one of said translating devices when said trolley engages the corresponding interposed section.

8. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, an electrical conductor extending along said trackway and having a plurality of spaced interposed distinguishable sections electrically insulated from the remainder of said con ductor and from each other, trolley means on said conveyor substantially continuously engage- I able with said conductor and sequentially engageable with said interposed sections, a plurality of power-actuated devices located adjacent said interposed sections, a plurality of power supply controls therefor, each of said controls being connected to one of said interposed sections, and manually settable discriminatory selector means carried by said conveyor and associated with said trolley means for successively analyzing said controls as said conveyor travels along said trackway for selecting one of said controls for supplying power to the corresponding one of said power devices. v r

9. In a telpherage system, a carrier, atrackway along which said carrier travels, having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a

aees car cmtrol' conductor having distinguishable sections,

individual to said stations and extending along:

said route, said distinguishable sections being electrically insulated from the remainder of said. conductor, control trolley means on. said carrier substantially continuously engageabi'e; with said control conductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, a discriminatory station selector on the carrier operable to selectively condition said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector being operable, to select a station, at anytime during the approach of said carrier to theselected. station, carrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and disposed to be energized from said control trolley means as the carrier approaches the corresponding station, and means operably responsive to. said energization to control an opera-- tion affecting the carrier at the selected station.

10. In. a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control conductor having distinguishable sections individual to said stations and extending along said route, said distinguishable sections being electrically insulated from the remainder of said conductor, control trolley means on said carrier substantially continuously engageable with said control conductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, a, discriminatory station selector on the carrier operable to selectively condition said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector be.- ing operable, to select a station, at any time during the approach of said carrier to the selected station, carrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and disposed to be energized from said control trolley means as the carrier approaches the corresponding station, and means operably responsive to said energization to control an operation ailecting the carrier at the selected station comprising a propulsion motor for said. conveyor.

11. In a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control conductor having distinguishable sections individual to said stations and extending along said route, said distinguishable sections being electrically insulated from the remainder of said conductor, control trolley means on said carrier substantially continuously engageable with said control. conductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, a discriminatory station selector on the carrier operable to selectively con dition said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector being operable, to select a station, at any time during the approach of said carrier to the selected station, carrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and. disposed to be energized from said control trolley means as the carrier approaches the corresponding station, and means operably responsive to said energization to control an operation affecting the carrier at the selected station comprisinga propulsion motor for said conveyor, said control conductor being in the power circuit of said motor.

12. In a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control conductor having distinguishable sections individual to said stations and extending along said'route,

1 ,4 said distinguishable sections being electrically-in sulated from-the remainder of said conductor, 'control trolley means on said carrier'substantially' continuously engageable with said control con ductor and sequentially engageablewith said' l sections, a discriminatory station selector oneth'e carrier operable to selectively condition said con--' trol trolley means in accordance with the station: selected, said. station selector being operable, to. select a station, at any time during the approach of said carrier to the selected station, carrier 'control means for each station connectedrto the corresponding section and disposed tobeenergized from said control trolley means as thecarrier approaches the corresponding station, and means operably responsive to said energizationto control an operation afiecting the carrier at the selected. station, said trackway comprising a plurality of track switches adjacent a plurality of said stations, respectively, said energization responsive means comprising motorsfor said track" switches, respectively.

13. In a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control con-- ductor having distinguishable sections individual to said stations and extending along said route, said distinguishable sections being electrically insulated from the remainder of said conductor, control trolley means on said carrier substantially continuously engageable with saidcontrol con= ductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, a discriminatory station selector'on the carrier operable to selectively condition said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector being operable, to select a station, at any time during the 'approach of said carrier to the selected stationycarrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and disposed to beenergized from said control trolley means as thecarrier approaches the-corresponding station, and meansv operably responsive to said energization'to' control an operation affecting the carrier at the selected station comprising an electric translating device mounted on said carrier.

14. In a control system for a carrier operable over a predeterminable route having a plurality of stations distributed therealong, a control con .ductor having distinguishable sections individual to said stations and extending along said route, said distinguishable sections being elec trically insulated from the remainder of said conductor, control trolley means on said carrier A substantially continuously engageable with said control conductor and sequentially engageable with said sections, a discriminatory station selec tor on the carrier operable to selectively condi-' tion said control trolley means in accordance with the station selected, said station selector being operable, to select a station, at any time during the approach of said carrier to the selected station, carrier control means for each station connected to the corresponding section and disposed to be energized from said control trolley means as the carrier approaches the, corresponding station, and means operably responsive to said energization to control an operation effecting the carrier at the selected station comprising a plurality of translating devices adjacent a plurality of said stations, respectively.

15. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, a power bus bar extending along side said trackway, having a plurality of interruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said trackway, a plurality of distinguishable selectee .bus:bar means,. one of, said means being interposed at an inter-. ruption of said power bus bar and insulated therefrom at each of said stations, said bus bar means being in alignment with respect to said power bus bar, discriminatory control collector means carried by said conveyor and guided to engage said power bus bar substantially continuously and to engagesequentially said interposed bus bar means "as the collector means travel, manually settable selector, means carried by said conveyor operable. to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance with the. bus bar means of the selectee station chosen, for

effective completion of a control circuit including said bus bar means and said collector means on engagement of the collector means with the bus bar means of the chosen station, and means included in said control circuit operably responsive to said effective completion of said circuit to control an operation afiecting the conveyor at the selected station,

16. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, a power bus bar extending alongside said trackway, having a plurality of interruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said tra'ckway, a plurality of distinguishable selectee collector engageable means, one of said means being interposed at an interruption of said power bus bar means and insulated therefrom at each of said operable to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance, with.

the diiferentiated selectee collector engageable means of the station selected, for effective completion of a control circuit including said bus,

bar means and said collector means on engagement of the collector means with the collector engageable means of the chosen station, and means included in said control circuit operably respon-: sive to said effective completion of said circuit to, control an operation affecting the conveyor at the,

selected station.

17. A conveyor for travelling along a track- Way, a power bus bar extending alongside said trackway, having a plurality of interruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said trackway, a plurality of distinguishable selectee collector engageable means, one of said means being interposed at an interruption of said power bus bar means and insulated therefrom at each of said stations, said collector engageable means being in alignment with respect to said power bus bar, discriminatory control collector means carried by said conveyor and guided to engage said power bus bar substantially continuously and to engage sequentially said interposed collector engageable means as the collector means travel, manually settable selector means carried by said conveyor operable to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance with thedifferentiated selectee collector engageable means of the station selected, for effective completion .of a control circuit including said bus bar means and said collector means on engagement of the collector means with the collector engageable means of the chosenstation, and means included in said control circuit operably responsive to said effective completion of said circuit to control an operation affecting the conveyor at the selected station.

18. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, a power bus bar extending alongside said trackway, having a plurality of interruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said trackway, a

plurality of distinguishable selectee collector engageable means, one of said means being interposed at an interruption of said power bus bar means and insulated therefrom at each of said stations, said collector engageable meansbeing in alignment with respect to said power bus bar, discriminatory control collector meansrcarried by said conveyor and guided to engage said power.

bus bar substantially continuously and to en gage sequentially said interposed collector en-' gageable means as the collector means travel, manually settable selector means carried by said conveyor operable to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance with the differentiated selectee collector engageable means of the station selected, for effective completion of a control circuit includ-. ing said busbar means and said collector means on engagement of the collector means with the collector engageable means of the chosen station, and means included in said control circuit.

operably responsive to said efiective completion of said circuit to control anroperation affecting the conveyor at the selected station, including an electric translating device carried by said conveyor.

19. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, a power bus bar extending alongside said trackway, having a plurality of inter-.

ruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said trackway, a

plurality of distinguishable selectee collector en-. gageable means, one of said means being inter-l posed at an interruption of said power bus bar means and insulated therefrom at each of said stations, said collector engageable means being in alignment with respect to said power bus bar, discriminatory control collector means carried by said conveyor and guided to engage said power bus bar substantially continuously and to engage sequentially said interposed collector engageable means as the collector means travel, manuallysettable selector means carried by said conveyor operable to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance with the differentiated selectee collector engageable means of the station selected, for effective completion of a control circuit including said bus bar means and said collector means on engagement of the collector means with the collector engageable means of the chosen station, and means included in said control circuit operably responsive to said effective completion of said circuit to control an operation affecting the conveyor at the selected station, including an electric translating device located at the selected station.

20. A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along said trackway, a power bus bar extending along-' side said trackway, having a plurality of interruptions therein located at spaced distinguishable selectee stations alongside said trackway, a plurality of distinguishable selectee collector engageable means, one of said means being interposed at an interruption of said power bus. bar

i "vi i. ,l erflai si h e 'it i ml @159 tqi n ll f eid i v gageable means as the collector' y discriminatdry, control collector means, in acr 'l w fi h i d 'fi fi l ftorengageablenians or'tnestatioii selected, for I effective completion of a'obn'trol "c'ircuit'lincludconveyc'ai[at fsele' ed I h electric translating: device carried by said 0011- "veyor' for propelling it. 4

gageable means,' one of said mejaris beirigintermeans and insulatedtherefrom at aohji'o'f said operable to selectively conditioi'is aid' ,discrimina able means or the chosn station,'and means in trol 'an oper I selected station, including a plurality offelectric' 'controlledby said translating devices." 55 n l' 'lefc f' f a veyor, a 't facliway for said conveyor, a firis't' electric translating device mounted on saidconveyor,

A way and having a plurality of interruptions thereinlocated at spaced points along said trackalignmentwitli respect to and insulated f om said power bus bar, a'pluifality "ofelectric translating devioeslocated alongside said trackway' and electrically connected to said b crirnin'atory control collectoif means carried by said conveyorand' substantially continuously en apsaesi S132 "and' t'o en d" collector en- Y v meanstravel, manually 'settablefs elctor" means 'e rnea by said conv ys? operatie "to selectively csvw ei said col- I spon'ding'one of condition said ted 's'electee collecirig 'said pasta; m ans and said collc tor ineans" eme tn a awria a s wi the 1 TD ,pb ifis i .idf b i in pect to andinsulatd from said 'ralit of elect eifective 'completion operation affecting the station," including an vf s a said circuit to control an a v i I t a "pluraiit'y saiidbus bar 21. "A trackway, a conveyor for travelling along uralitypf"power supply onti c'i'lselecsaid trackway, a' power b sbar extending along- 25 ti'ically connectedtobthei's j busflci in side said trackway, liavi'n'g a plur'ality ofinterdiscriminatory "c'on ruptions' therein located at'spaced distinguishable a" selectestations" alongside said" trackway, a plurality of distinguishableselectee collector en- Yely co dit i on sa on ol colp'o'sed' at anir'i'terruptionl'of said 'power bus bar stations, -said"collei'it-or engageable means' being f in alignment with respect tosaid power bus bar, lec

disoriminatory'controli collector means carried .iivic'e'wlien sa' rmec t busbar substantially continuously and: to engage sett'able" selector means carried by said" conveyor tory control collector mea ii accordance with the differentiated' 'selectee'j "collector eh 'gageable means of .the' station selected; 'fo'r'efiective completiqn of a control circuit including saidbus bar means "and "said collectorinean's on engagement of the'collectorineans with the collector'engage-V H qqnve q rflir el n along ower 'bu'sbarjegtendirig along plur'ali f spacedfdisti iguishs at i' s d" cluded in said control circuit bperatiy responsive to said eijective completion of said circuit to contio'n afiecti'ng' the ic 'onveyor' at the ectin esi t-locatedaaja" at said mudnsana ranged ubsta ntially n alignmen't with-s poweibus barat said-interruptions and insulated therefrom, discriminatory s carried by said cbnveyor gag andcooperatefwith said ubs tantiallyffoontiniiouslyf'and to slaidelectricalj contranslating "devicesallocatedat said stations, re-' spectively, and a plurality of tra'ckway switches and guided t 22 In atemheragesystem, a power driven conaste W a power bus bar extending alongside said trackp able "tofselectivelyfcondim natory' contr'dl"collecto means, wit 7 e f electrical" j"con r iecting station ior effective ac- I cuit ricluding said eleci 'e 1"ct1fifcal 'f'co' way, a plurality of distinguishable bus bar meansg said bus bar means being interposed at said inj terruptions at said spaced points and being in p us bar means, disw v A v me I cuitoperablyfi espo fto efrsa'id'cireuit to control an operation afiecting the conveyor at the selectee station.

gageable with said power bus bar and sequentially engageable with said bus bar means, said collector means being electrically connected to 25. A conveyor for travelling along a trackway, said first translating means, first manually seta power bus bar extending along said trackway, table selector means carried by saidconveyor op- 75 a plurality of spaced distinguishable selectee sta- 19 tions located alongside said trackway, said'power bus bar having a plurality of interruptions therein individual to said stations, a plurality of distinguishable selectee electrical connecting means located adjacent said stations and arranged substantially in alignment with said power bus bar at said interruptions and insulated therefrom, discriminatory control collector means carried by said conveyor and guided to engage and cooperate with said power bus b'ar substantially continuously and to engage and cooperate with said electrical connecting means sequentially as the collector means travel, manually settable selector means carried by said conveyor operable to selectively condition said discriminatory control collector means, in accordance with the electrical connecting means of the selected station, for efiective actuation of a control circuit including said electrical connecting means upon engagement of the collector means with the electrical connecting means of the chosen station, and means included insaid control circuit operably responsive to effective completion of said circuit to control an operation affecting the conveyor at the selectee station.

26. In a conveyor system of the type wherein self-propelled electrically powered driving units travel along endless connecting uni-directional conveyor lines and have a plurality of possible destinations in such lines along a plurality of routes, and wherein the movement of said driving units from given points in said conveyor system to various destinations may require automatically controlled intermittent stopping and starting of said driving units as well as automatically controlled movement of track switches, means for dispatching said driving units to predetermined destinations characterized by a control system including a continuous constantly energized electrical power supply throughout said conveyor lines, collector means associated with each driving unit for receiving said power, a separate control conductor extending throughout said conveyor lines, and separate collector means for contacting said control conductor, said control conductor being provided with a plurality of insulated electrical contact members in the path of said last-mentioned collector means capable of momentarily completing an electrical circuit upon being contacted by said collector means thereby providing non-selective electrical signals in response to the passing of said driving units.

2'7. In a conveyor system of the type wherein self-propelled electrically powered driving units travel along endless connecting uni-directional conveyor lines and have a plurality of possible destinations in such lines along a plurality of routes, and wherein the movement of said driving units from given points in said conveyor system to various destinations may require automatically controlled intermittent stopping and starting of said driving units as well as automatically controlled movement of track switches, means for dispatching said driving units to predetermined destinations characterized by a control system including a continuous constantly energized electrical power supply throughout said conveyor lines, collector means associated with station control means for each viding non-selective electrical signals in response to the passing of'said driving units.

28. In a control system for a plurality-of carriers operable along a predeterminable route along which a plurality of stations are located at each of which a control operation may be performed, selective control means on at least one carrier which is common to all said stations, a station disposed to be electrically coupled to said control means as the carrier approaches the corresponding station and be actuated by said coupling to efiect a' said control operation, additional control means disposed to be electrically coupled to said selective control means as said one carrier moves along said route and be actuated by said coupling, and means operably responsive to said last-mentioned actuation for controlling another said carrier.

29. In a conveyor system of the type wherein self-propelled electrically powered driving units travel along endless connecting uni-directional conveyor lines and have a plurality of possible destinations in such lines along a plurality of routes, and wherein the movement of said driving unitsfrom given points in said conveyor system tovarious destinations may require automatically controlled intermittent stopping and starting of said driving units as well as automatically controlled movement of track switches, means for dispatching said driving units to predetermined destinations characterized by a control system including a continuous constantly energized electrical power supply throughout said conveyor lines, collector means associated with each driving unit for receiving said power, a separate control conductor extending throughout said conveyor lines, and separate collector means for contacting said control conductor,said control conductor being provided with a plurality of energized and deenergized and otherwise adapted fortuse in stopping and starting said driving uni s.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,221 Spaftord Oct. 25, 1949 deen'ergized and otherwise insulated sections'capable of being independently 

